Glossary |
| Agistment - the boarding of Alpacas |
| BAS - British Alpaca Society |
| Blanket - the part of the Alpaca's coat that extends from the nape of the neck at the withers along the back to the tail and down the flanks to the belly and haunches |
| Bred Female - a pregnant Alpaca |
| Camelidae (Camels) - the larger family in which lama pacos (the Alpaca) is a member. This grouping includes camels, llamas, guanacos and vicunas and Alpacas |
| Character - overall evaluation of fleece or lock as based on handle, staple length, fineness, density, luster and its softness |
| Conformation - the shape/contour of the Alpaca |
| Cria - (cree-a) - a baby Alpaca |
| Crimp - the even, corrugated wave formation in the staple (lock) of the huacaya fibre |
| Crinkle - the even, corrugated wave formation in a single fibre of the huacaya fleece |
| Curl - the spiraling, lustrous ringlets of the length of the individual suri fibre which gives this coat a drenched look |
| Dam - an Alpaca's mother |
| Density - the number of fibres in a specific area on an Alpaca's body |
| Fineness - the diameter in microns of an individual Alpaca fibre |
| Guanaco (Lama guanacoe) - direct wild ancestor of the domesticated llama |
| Handle - the way an Alpaca fibre feels when it is touched, sometimes this is also called softness |
| Hembra (Hembas) - female |
| Herdsire - main stud male and male Alpaca with desirable genetics for breeding |
| Huacaya (wa-ki-a) - a type of Alpaca with crimped wool resembling a fluffy teddy bear |
| Kush - sit down |
| Orgling - a most unique noise. This male-only, melodic mating sound attracts female Apacas. The male orgles during mating. |
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Paco-Vicuna (Vicuna Paco) - is a cross that is part vicuna and part domesticated Alpaca |
| Sire - the Alpaca's father and sometimes called the herdsire |
| Stotting - an entertaining movement, graceful antelope like leaps in which all four legs leave the ground simultaneously. Cria do this by 'follow your leader' stotting. |
| Suri - an Alpaca type known for long pencils of non-crimped fibre resembling dreadlocks |
| Tui - this is the prime fleece, the first and best fleece an Alpaca will ever produce |
| Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna)- South American camelid with extremely fine fibre, the vicuna is a direct wild ancestor of the domesticated Alpaca. Wild Vicunas are on the endangered species list |
| Weanling - a weaned Alpaca less than one year old |
| Yearling - an Alpaca one to two years old |
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